Tewksbury board backs slots-parlor pact that could bring $4M to town annually

TEWKSBURY -- The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously Thursday to support a host community agreement with Penn National Gaming Inc. for a proposed $200 million slots-only facility project.

The facility would be located at 300 Ames Pond Drive, near the intersection of Interstate 495 and Route 133.

Scott Wilson, the board's chairman, confirmed the agreement, which allows PNG to launch a campaign on the facility's behalf, meet with local residents, and ultimately try to win voter support at the ballot box.

"I think this represents a tremendous economic opportunity for the town to explore," said Wilson. "Up front, it will provide construction jobs and later there will be permanent jobs. Plus, it would help pick up the town and help struggling business. I urge residents to learn all they can about the proposal because ultimately it's up to them if they want it or not."

In a press release to The Sun, PNG officials outlined the following key details on what the company would provide to the Town of Tewksbury:

* Annual estimated payments exceeding $4 million, including $3 million in estimated property taxes, $1 million in mitigation payments and $120,000 in contributions to fund Tewksbury's capital expenditures and other initiatives.

* Work to maximize employment opportunities for local residents and area businesses during the construction and operation phases of the facility. The project is expected to create approximately 1,000 direct and indirect jobs during the construction period and 500 permanent jobs upon opening.

* Fully reimbursing the town for planning and peer review costs to determine the impacts of the project, including consultants and temporary staff.

* Implementing a responsible gaming plan in Tewksbury, including active participation in the Massachusetts Partnership for Responsible Gambling, promoting responsible gaming in daily operations, and supporting public awareness of responsible gaming, among others.

* Donating annually to nonprofit entities that serve Tewksbury citizens. Penn National Gaming provided over $12.7 million total in 2012 to nonprofit organizations in jurisdictions where it operates.

* Reimbursing the Town of Tewksbury for expenses related to a town election in which the citizens will decide whether to host a slots only facility.

"We are very pleased to reach this agreement with local officials on a project that we expect will result in over 1,500 new jobs and more than $4.1 million in annual economic benefits for the citizens of Tewksbury," said Jeff Morris, director of public affairs at Penn National Gaming. "We look forward to meeting directly with citizens and leaders of Tewksbury to review our proposal, answer questions, address concerns, and become partners with them in this significant economic development project."

Penn National is in the process of opening an office on Main Street in Tewksbury in the immediate future.

PNG has until Oct. 4 to submit an application to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. In that time, it must win approval from Tewksbury for a zoning change to build the slots casino and also win a separate ballot referendum in a townwide vote.

Selectman Doug Sears said he was confident that residents will approve the project.

"Once people see that it's in the best interest of the town, I believe they'll support it," Sears said. "If people say they don't want it, then they're saying they don't want $4 million each year for infrastructure needs. How else are we going to find that kind of money?

"The town of Tewksbury needs an influx of business capital, and this would also help attract customers to the surrounding businesses," he added.

But some residents have already started organizing against the slots parlor. Some started a Facebook page called "No Slots Tewksbury," which will soon have a link for a separate website. The Facebook group is a "townwide organization of residents seeking to maintain the quality of lives and local businesses in Tewksbury."

Tewksbury resident Ann Buskey has joined the anti-slots parlor movement. Buskey, who has two children, ages 6 and 9, is concerned for her children's safety and about the potential traffic impact.

"All I envision is little kids being solicited at the bus stop after someone just lost all their money," she said. "The slim gain from a slots parlor is not worth the price the community pays."

It's good that residents get to weigh in about the proposal, said state Rep. Jim Lyons, R-Andover, who represents the district where the slots parlor is proposed. Lyons voted against the casino legislation in 2011.

"With the social damages that casinos and slots parlors can create, it's something that we shouldn't be involved in," Lyons said. "Now the local community has the right to decide whether they want this, and that's what I support about the process."

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